Elementary Education at Roots Community School
Providing individualized, balanced education so
your child flourishes.
At Roots, we believe students achieve great things when given the opportunity to learn at their own pace. We know individualized and balanced education inspires students to push themselves to grow – academically and personally.
We understand childhood development and have created an educational model to meet student needs. Elementary students do not gain mastery in all academic areas at equal speeds. They’re often advanced in one subject while having more difficulty in other subjects – this is totally normal.
The problem is – typical elementary schools are structured with rigid grade levels that don't accommodate your child’s individual development.
Roots is different.
Elementary School at Roots Is Designed to Be Different.
We respect the developmental timeline of each individual child and teach them at a level that provides the “just-right-challenge” no matter what their grade level is. This individualized level of challenge facilitates growth without pushing students into overwhelm. It also allows your student to move at a more advanced pace as they are able – avoiding school boredom.
Roots Elementary School offers education for Kindergarten through 6th grade
School is typically one of the few places where your child is separated into a single age group. Nearly every other activity children are involved in, separates children into a broader age range, such as sports, social clubs, and music programs.
Even as adults, we’re not separated into same-age work or social groups. The standard elementary school model makes dividing students up easy, however it doesn’t put the child’s interest first.
Roots has 4 classrooms for elementary school students – not one class for each grade. We’ve created multi-age, multi-grade classrooms. This intentional setup is for the benefit of both students and teachers.
There are 4 Elementary Classes at Roots Community School
Roots Community School started in 2017 with only one classroom, serving 1st – 4th graders. As more students enrolled, we expanded to four elementary school class levels. Roots recently added preschool and middle school after consistent requests from parents to serve more students.
The Roots Elementary School Classes:
Wolves, Owls, Bears, and Eagles.
Why Does Roots Have Multi-age Classrooms In Elementary School?
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Multi-age classrooms encourage more advanced or older students to help younger students. This fosters growth, empathy, leadership, and collaboration while reducing competition within classrooms. Students who would not traditionally be leaders in their peer group feel more comfortable exercising their leadership skills with younger students, so they develop skills they otherwise would have neglected.
More advanced students can deepen their understanding by explaining concepts to other students. Many times, advanced students are also inspired to dig deeper into a topic or concept in order to explain it better to their classmates. Older students are excited when they successfully help their peers understand a new concept. Empathy, respect, and leadership are fostered through this process.
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Younger students in a multi-age classroom are exposed to higher-level thinking and problem-solving concepts, without the pressure of trying to keep up. In multi-age classrooms, the expectation that all students will have the same level of understanding is removed. The fear of being “behind” is eliminated, and your student can feel safe to ask questions or get extra help.
Younger students have the opportunity to ask an older student for assistance or practice a skill without fear of judgment. Younger students know their classmates are older, so they don’t put pressure on themselves to be at the same level.
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These multi-age classrooms remove the stigma from students who need remedial or advanced instruction. A culture of acceptance is created, and your student internalizes that we all learn at different paces and have different strengths.
We celebrate these differences and talk about them instead of trying to hide or ignore differences. Don’t be surprised if your student nearly forgets what “grade” their friends are in because they see them as a whole person vs. a grade level.
Multi-age classrooms also allow students and teachers to develop deeper relationships by being together for more than one year. Students learn the style and expectations of a teacher, and transition from being the new, young student in the class into a leader during their second or third year with that same teacher. In typical classrooms, teachers spend the first month getting to know their students. Roots students have the same teacher for more than one year, so teachers get more instructional time early in the year since they already know their students.
Your student will also get to know teachers in small group settings and full-school activities. Our school is a collaborative community rather than silos of classrooms. Teachers get more instructional time early in the year since they already know their students.
Multi-age classrooms encourage child-led learning where your child develops a lifelong love for learning.
Wolves Class
Kindergarten at Roots
The Wolves class is the only class at Roots Community School that is a single grade level.
We know kindergarten is an incredibly special time in your child’s life, and a time where they make huge developmental leaps. We know kindergarten is an incredibly special time in your child’s life, and a time where they make huge developmental leaps.
Kindergarteners begin the year mentally and emotionally so young. Even if your child has been to preschool, the growth they experience in kindergarten may surprise you.
Kindergarten is a time to create strong academic and social-emotional foundations. Roots maintains the balance of play, socialization, and academics while having the Wolves kindergarten class as a separate unit from the other grades. Sometimes kindergarteners need more time, a break, another book, or an extra recess. At Roots, we can flex and meet our students where they are.
ACTIVITIES
The Wolves class participates in many activities that include the whole school, such as assemblies or school celebrations. This allows them to interact with older students and siblings and brings them into the Roots culture without overwhelming them with 50 “big kids.”
METHODS & PROGRAMS
We use teaching methods and programs that have been shown to provide long-term benefits and reduce common difficulties in later elementary years. One of these programs is called Establishing Foundational Skills for Academic Proficiency (EFSAP).
BUILDING BLOCKS
During Kindergarten at Roots, we focus on laying a strong foundation that will help your child succeed for years to come. We believe children need to learn how to learn before we tell them what to learn.
THE WHOLE CHILD
This curriculum focuses on educating the whole child, increases memory and reasoning skills, gives students time to think and practice, and makes learning fun. Learn more about the EFSAP here.
We know Kindergarten is a huge milestone for families. At Roots, your child receives a holistic, developmentally appropriate kindergarten experience.
The Owls Class
Leveling Up in Elementary School
After completing Kindergarten, your child is ready to engage in more classroom learning and build on their strong foundation – it’s time to join the Owls class.
Owls students are generally 1st and 2nd grade. The grade levels vary year to year depending on student needs and enrollment.
We remain flexible with our classes because we know your student’s academic and developmental levels matter more than an arbitrary grade level.
NEXT LEVEL SKILLS
Owls students have mastered how to learn and take information in… now it’s time to build their knowledge bank. There is so much to learn and so many topics to explore in these early years. It’s an adventure as we dive into education together.
CRITICAL THINKING
Your child won’t simply memorize facts and numbers – they’ll acquire information through experimentation and projects. This results in a much deeper understanding that your child can draw upon when they’re faced with more challenging problems later in elementary school.
OUT & ABOUUT
As you know, this age group benefits from lots of movement and hands-on learning. So this is exactly the style of education we provide in the Owls classroom. Lots of learning through exploring, questioning, and investigating happens here.
A THEMATIC APPROACH
Your student will love our thematic approach to learning. The theme remains consistent throughout the year and academic subjects. This style of learning allows students to make connections to other subjects and allows for a deeper, more enriching classroom experience. Students begin to apply their knowledge everywhere – even making academic connections at the park when they realize they’re playing on simple machines, for example.
As an Owl, your child will build on their emerging reading skills. No matter what your child’s reading level is they’ll receive instruction that meets their level and helps them thrive.
Bears Class
The Transition Elementary School Years
The Bears class is known for big changes and “ah-ha” moments. Students in the Bears class are generally 3rd and 4th-grade equivalent. These years are full of brain development that create shifts in your student’s thinking and information processing abilities.
These transition years are critical for your student’s long-term success. Maybe your child or a friend’s child started struggling in school around 3rd grade. This is common, and at Roots, we target our teaching to support your student through this phase of brain development.
Roots teachers deeply understand this developmental shift and the potential roadblocks that can hit students during these years. That’s why Roots teaches foundational skills in the early years, and why we use specific teaching methods during the Bears elementary years.
A MODERN APPROACH
Your child will be taught in a multi-modal, multi-sensory way so they can most effectively learn and retain all the new information.
BUILDING UP
Your child will complete increasingly complex projects in the Bears class, combining the math, science, and writing skills they’ve acquired. Many projects are completed in groups to facilitate collaboration, compromise, communication, and problem-solving.
Eagles Class
Taking Flight and Soaring Out of Elementary School
Your child has a strong foundation and is ready to spread their wings in their academic career and problem solve more independently. Eagles students are typically 5th and 6th-grade students. You know this age comes with big opinions and an increasing desire for independence.
We channel your student’s desire for independence by allowing them more responsibility and freedom during school, but not without targeted support.
REACHING HIGHER
Eagles projects are increasingly complex and require more independent work – your student is ready because they have a strong academic, emotional, and critical thinking foundation from their previous years at Roots.
STRONG LEADERS
Eagles consolidate their academic, social, emotional, and independence skills before moving on to middle school. Eagles are role models for the whole school, taking on responsibilities in their classroom and during all-school events.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Eagles gather information through researching and reading. They’re able to find common themes, summarize information, and come to conclusions about problems posed to them.
READY TO FLY
Your child will be well prepared for middle school at Roots or in a public school after their years as an Eagle. They’ll have a strong academic foundation, sense of self, and leadership skills that will serve them well during the middle school years and beyond.
Questions? No Problem.
We are happy to answer questions about our academic philosophy and curriculum choices. You can read more about our educational philosophy as well.
Roots Community School continues to serve youth in Chelan Valley thanks to generous donors and sponsors.
If you would like to learn more about supporting our mission to create generations of humble, tenacious learners who will impact our valley and the world, visit our donations page.
Roots Community School is a non-profit 501c3 and a private elementary school.
We deeply appreciate all your support – financial and otherwise!